Jerusalem sent its best wishes to Athens on Thursday soon after
Greece – after two months of political stalemate – named a new
cabinet to try and pull the country out of its economic morass.

“Israel wishes the new government of Greece much success in facing
the complex economic challenges which lay ahead for the country,”
said a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry.

“We share the hope that the government of Antonis Samaras will lead
Greece toward a better future. The State of Israel will continue to
nurture its friendship with the Greek people and their government,
and will endeavor to widen the ties between the two countries.”

Israel heaved a sigh of relief when Samaras narrowly defeated the
radical left SYRIZA party that had threatened to fundamentally change
Greece’s policy toward Israel, which had improved dramatically over
the last two years.

While congratulating the new government, the statement said Israel
shared the “concern of the democratic forces in Greece” regarding the
18 members of the farright Golden Dawn party elected to the Greek
parliament “and the possible influence of this group on the
development of racist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic ideas in the
country. We trust in the ability of Greece to tackle this challenge
too, and to preserve its ancient democratic values.”